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STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHI NE. No. 576,376. Patented Feb. 2, 1897;

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' STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 576,376. Patented Feb; 2 1897'.

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I I a Attorney.

(No Model.) k 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

F. RAVEN.

. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. No. 576 376. Patented Feb. 2, 189 7.

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FFRAV EN. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

v No. 576,376. A Patented Peb.'2, 1897.

o 00 Witnsses. j Inventor.

/ Attorney.

(No Modl.) e Sheets-Sheet 6.

PLR AVENJ STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHIIIE.

No. 576,376. Patented Feb. 2, 1897.

W itnesses.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC FREEMAN RAVEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO JAMES R. KENDRICK, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,376, dated February2, 1897.

, A plication filed March 9 1895. Serial No. 5 2L075. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN RAVEN, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and usefulImprovements in Straight-Knitting Machines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of straight-knitting machines knownas power or rotary machines, wherein spring-hook needles with theircomplementary presser and sinker devices are employed, my object hereinbeing to adapt such machines to the knitting of rubber-weft fabrics, as,for" example, elastic stockings, knee-caps, and similar surgical goods.Heretofore goods of this character have been knit upon the originalhandframe, as it is termed, wherein is employed, in combination with theessential elements above specified, a point-bearing bar which operates,in conjunction with the needles, to effeet the interlocking of therubber weft by and with the successive courses of stitches. In suchhand-frames the requisite lateral and longitudinal movements of thepoint-bar are effected by the manual operation of the bar, and similarlythe thread and the rubber weft are separately introduced.

A feature of my invention consists in the combination, with the rotaryor power mechanism first mentioned,of a point-bearing bar of the kindused in the hand-machines, together with novel means whereby therequisite longitudinal and lateral reciprocations are impartedautomatically to the point-bar to effect the operation of the pointsupon alternate needles of the set during the knitting of the successivecourses of stitches.

Another feature of the invention resides in a novel constructionandarrangement of the thread and weft carriers and of the mechanism foroperating and controlling the same, all ofwhich will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed. I

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of aknitting-machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a right end view.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section as on the line 0000 of Fig. 1,looking toward the right end of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail in frontview, showing the mechanism for longitudinally reciprocating thepoint-bar; Fig. 5 is adetail in end view, showing the means fortransversely reciprocating said frame. Fig. 6 is a detail in front viewof the thread-carriers and their adjuncts, the same being in theirnormal or idle condition. Fig. 7 is a transverse section as on the liney y of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the carriers in theraised or working condition. Fig. 9 is a detail in front View of theweftcarriers and immediate connections. Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofa sectional stop device for determining the throw of the threadcarriersduring the operation of forming a heel or pouch portion. Fig. 11 is anelevation of a modification of the mechanism for controlling certainstop devices that determine the throw of the thread-carriers atprescribed stages of the operation. Fig. 12 is an end view of the same.Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified construction of stop devicehereinafter referred to. Fig. 14. is a detail of that portion of themachine to which said stop device is applied.

The numeral 1 designates the main frame, 2 the driving-shaft, and 3 thehand-operated crankshaft, from which motion is transmitted to the shaft2 through the intermediate gearing 4.

5 designates the spring-hook needles, 6 the jack-sinkers, by means ofwhich the thread is pushed between the alternate needles, and 7 theintermediate or lead sinkers, which are periodically depressed to effectthe formation of a loop between each pair of needles. The loops thusformed are moved out of the way of the sinkers, and a succeeding setisformed in like manner and then engaged with the hooks of the needles.

8 designates the presser-bar, by which the hooks are depressed in amanner to retain the engaged loops between them, and 9 the series ofpoints which cooperate with the hooks to permit the passage of thefirst-formed loops over the interposed weft and the engaged loops.Following this another set of loops is formed, and the last precedingset is drawn Proceeding with the knitting of the main over them andinterlocked therewitlnas in the part of the stocking, the thread is laidby the other instance, and so on in successive courses the loops areformed and interlocked until the desired length of fabric has beenproduced.

The parts above referred to, together with the supporting and operatingmechanisms therefor, are too well kn own in the art to need furtherdescription in this connection.

The first part of my invention com prehends means for imparting therequisite lateral and longitudinal movements to the point-bar, thelateral movements being for the purpose of throwing the points into andout of engagement with the opposed needle-hooks, and the longitudinalmovements being for the purpose of bringing the points into alinementwith alternate needles preparatory to their cooperation during theformation of one course of stitches and the interlocking of the wefttherewith, and then into alinement with the other or intermediateneedles preparatory to the formation of the next succeeding course ofstitches, &c.

10 designates the point bearing bar, the ends thereof being providedwith pivot-studs 11, which are loosely fitted to bearings in brackets12, whereby the bar may be oscillated so as to throw the points 9 intoand out of the plane of the needles, and whereby said bar may belongitudinally reciprocated on its pivots in a manner to set the pointsin alinement with the alternate needles, such construction andoperations being common in the hand-machines above mentioned.

By turning the crank-shaft the thread-carriers are brought into positionto lay the thread and commence their traverse. At the same time the jack-sinkers are caused to follow directly in rear of said carriers in amanner to depress the thread between the needles. At the end of thetraverse the thread-carriers drop between the proximate needles and totheir original or forward position. The lead sinkers are then depressedand the pointbar is manually moved into position on the needles (onepoint to every other needle) and depressed thereon. The sinkers are thenbrought forward, the points taking the thread from every other needle.The points are then slightly elevated, the sinkers retreat, and therubber weft is passed under the points immediately over theneedle-heads. The sinkers are then brought forward and down, by whichmovement the thread is returned from the points to the needles and therubber weft is moved down under the needles. This completes the firstcourse of the welt. The second and succeeding welt courses are knittedsimilarly to that just described, excepting that before the points arebrought into position the presser-baris brought into operation, so as topress the work over the needle-heads and effect the formation of a plainhosierystitch in the usual way. The points are then brought intoposition and the course or courses completed, as before explained.

carriers and depressed by the j ack-sinkers, as before. At the same timethat the lead sinkers are being depressed the point-bar is moved intoposition to set the points onto alternate needles. The presser-bar thendescends, and as the sinkers move forward it rises, having passed theloops of the respective needles over the needle-beards and onto thepoints in alternate order. The sinkers then bring the whole to theneedle-heads, the loops on the alternate needles being knocked over thesame. The points, with their engaged loops, are then slightly raised andthe rubber weft introduced, as before stated. Thus the loops arereturned from the points to the needles, and there is made a double loopon the alternate needles, the rubber thread or weft lying between thefront and back of said loop. Preparatory to the formation of succeedingcourses in the manner just described the point-bar is movedlongitudinally, so that the points are placed in position opposite tothe alternate needles having the single loops.

The brackets 12 are formed on or secured to the upper ends of verticallydisposed rocking levers 13, whereby the point-bearin g bar may belaterally reciprocated so as to engage the points with and disengagethem from the opposed needles. The rocking levers are fulcrumed onasuitably-located shaft 14, the depending arms of the levers being heldnormally inward by means of springs 15, which are connected therewithand with brackets 16, affiXed to the main frame. Pivoted to thesebrackets are levers 17 the upper arms of which are connected by means oflinks 18 with the corresponding arms of the rocking levers 13, while thelower ends of said levers 17 are provided with rollers 19, that takeagainst appropriate cams 20 on the main shaft. Hence during the rotationof the shaft the cams 20, in conjunction with the springs 15, act uponthe levers to effect the requisite lateral reciprocations of thepoint-bearing bar.

Fulcrumed to a suitable bracket 21 at one end of the machine is avertical lever 22, the upper arm of which is equipped with a pivotedcatch or hook 22, that is adapted to be engaged with a pin or stud 23 onan arm or extension 23 on the adjacent end of the bar. The lower arm ofthe lever 22 is provided with a stud or roller 24, that takes against anappropriate cam-wheel 25 on a transverse shaft 26, whereby during theintermittent rotation of said wheel the point-bar is periodicallyreciprocated longitudinally. The movement of the shaft 26 is effected bymeans of a springcontrolled reciprocative pawl 27, acting upon aratchet-wheel 28 on the shaft. is pivotally connected with the forwardarm of a horizontal lever 29, the other arm thereof being provided witha roller 30, which is actuated by an appropriate cam 31 on the mainshaft. On shaft 26 is another ratchet 32, which is engaged by astop-pawl 33, piv- The pawl 1 oted to the main frame, said pawl beingheld in action by means of a suitably-disposed spring 34.

.FiXed to each of the brackets 23 is the upper end of a depending spring23 the lower end of which bears against the edge of the adjacent lever13, the action of the spring being to maintain the point-bearing bar ina normal position in respect to the needles and thus facilitate themanipulation of the bar by the operator.

The second part of my invention comprehends means for operating andcontrolling the knitting-thread and the elastic weft in relation to eachother and to the needles.

On the forward part of the main frame, at a suitable point above thejack and needle mechanisms, is a longitudinally-disposed bar 35, onwhich is mounted a reciprocative slideplate 36. This plate is connectedwith the forwardly-extendin g arm of a horizontal rocking lever 37, therearward arm of the latter being linked with a vertical rocking lever 38underthe influence of a cam This cam is mounted on a shaft 40, which isgeared with and impelled by the main shaft. The parts are so constructedthat during the rotation of the cam the plate 36 is reciprocatedlongitudinally on the bar.

The connection of the slide-plate with the lever 37 is as follows: Theupper edge of the plate is recessed longitudinally to form shoulders aat a proper interval apart. Rising from the plate adjacent to theseshoulders are posts a, to which are pivoted the free ends ofoutwardly-extending latch-arms a which are held normally downward bymeans of springs a secured thereto and to the plate. The forward ends ofthe latcharms are beveled, and they are provided on their lower edgeswith notches a. During the successive strokes of the carrier the beveledends of the respective latch-arms alternately impinge against projectingstuds a on stops '65, hereinafter described, so as to ride upon suchstuds until the notches register with and engage the same. Thus theplate is temporarily locked at the end of each stroke.

Resting upon the upper edge of the plate is a longitudinal bar B, whichis pivotally connected midway of its ends with the lever 37, theconnection being such that while the bar will be reciprocatedlongitudinally by the lever the bar will be capable of an oscillatorymovement to raise and lower its ends alternately. The ends of the barare beveled, and it, the bar, is provided on its under edge with twodepending shoulders I), the distance between which is somewhat greaterthan that between the shoulders on the plate. The shoulders on the barare adapted to coact al ternately with the adjacent shoulders at on theplate to effect the reciprocation of the latterthat is to say, if thebar B be inclined and its right-hand shoulder engaged with that of theplate, as shown in Fig. 1, then as the bar is moved toward the right theplate will be correspondingly moved until the leading latch-arm engagesthe opposing stud a on the right-hand stop 65. Immediately be fore thelatching action the beveled end of the bar B abuts against a lowerprojecting stud b on the stop 65, which latter stud raises the engagedend of the bar sufficiently to disengage the shoulder of the bar fromthat of the plate, the bar thus moving onward independently of the plateuntil the other or left-hand shoulder on the bar reaches and engages thecorresponding shoulder on the plate preparatory to a succeeding strokein the opposite direction. On the upper edge of the bar, near each edgethereof, is a projection Z2 which, immediately before the bar campletesits stroke, impinges against a stud a on the latch and raises the lattersuliiciently to release it andmaintain it released to pertion, asfollows: Extending forwardly from the fixed bar 40, upon which theneedle-bearing bar is supported, are two end arms 41, which are drooped,as seen, to pass below the point-bar. The outer portions of these armsconstitute tracks, upon which are supported transverse]y-reciprocativeend heads 42, that are connected by a longitudinal bar 43. These headseach comprise a block 42, on the outside of which is an arm or bracket42, that is affixed to the end of the bar 43. Attached to said arm aretwo parallel crosspieces 42, on which are mounted rollers 44, that takeagainst the respective sides of the tracks, so as to reduce the frictionof the parts. Secured to each of the heads by means of a screw or pin 44is one arm of an angle-piece 44 the other arm of which is connected withthe usual reciprocating jackframe 45 by means of a link 46, so that theheads partake of the horizontal movements of said frame, such movementsbeing imparted to the frame from a cam 47 on the main shaft through acoacting lever 48 and link 49, as seen most clearly in Fig. 3.

On the inner faces of the blocks 42 are vertical guideways 50, to whichare fitted. the

ends of a longitudinal bar 51. This bar rests upon forwardly-projectinglugs on the ends of a rearward parallel bar 52, which latter bar isconnected with the upper end of a vertically-reciprocative bar 52, thatis guidedin a suitable frame 53, affixed to the main frame. The lowerend of this vertical bar is connected with the free end of a lever 54:,that is fulcrumed to a fixed bracket or support 55. The lever isconnected, by means of a link 56, with the forward end of ahorizontalrocking lever 57, the rearward end of the latter being provided with aroller 58, which is acted upon by a cam 59 on the main shaft, wherebyduring the operation of said shaft the bar 51 is verticallyreciprocated.Fitted to this bar 51, so as to be longitudinally movable thereon, is aplate 60, to which the thread-carriers are secured, a rod 60, whose endsare secured to the face of the bar adjacent to the heads, serving toprevent displacement of the plate. These carriers constitute angulararms 61, the vertical members of which lie adjacent to the respectivesets of needles, and are provided with guide-eyes 62, through which thethreads extend. Depending from the slidebar 36, hereinbefore described,is an arm 63, that extends between suitably-disposed lugs 64: 64 on theplate 60, so that during the reciprocations of said bar the plate willbe correspondingly impelled. The construction and organization of partsare such that during the traverse of the plate it is in the elevatedposition and the guide-eyes on the thread-carriers lie above the shanksof the needles, so that the threads are properly introduced to thelatter, but at the end of each stroke of the plate it is depressed so asto drop the guide-eyes, with their respective threads, between and belowthe needles, thereby effectually determining the length of the courseand avoiding all liability of the threads being carried beyond theparticular needles between which the thread-carriers descend. This beingdone, the carriers are moved forward, that is, toward the operator, bythe stroke of the jack-frame, so as to project the guide-eyes forwardlybeyond the needles and beyond the path of the advancing jack-sinkersabove referred to. Preparatory to the knitting of a succeeding coursethe thread-carriers are retracted and raised through and above theneedles in position to lay the threads, as before stated. Hence if thestroke of the carriers be gradually increased or decreased the threadswill be introduced to a greater or less number of needles in each set,and thus effect a corresponding Widening or narrowing of the webs.

As a means whereby the successive strokes of the carriers may beincreased or dimin ished, as desired, I mount on the bar 35, near eachend thereof, longitudinally-reciprocative stops 65. On each of thesestops is a threaded lug 66,- through which extends a screw-bar 67,provided with a handle 68. The lugs are oppositely threaded, and theengaging threads of the screw-bar are correspond-- ingly formed, so thatby a turn of the screwbar to the right or to the left the stops will besimultaneously advanced toward each other or retracted, as desired.

Instead of the screw mechanism for adjustin g the stops I may employ thedevices shown in Figs. 11 and 12-that is to say, on a stud 69 in abracket depending from the bar 35 are affixed two oppositely-disposedcams7l 72 and an intermediate ratchet-wheel 7 8. Engaging these cams arerods 74 75, which are 'connected with the respective stops in such amanner that during the rotation of the ratchetwheel to the right or tothe left the cams, being correspondingly moved, will effect therequisite adjustments of the stops. The rods are held normally inengagement with the cams by means of suitably-applied springs 76.Loosely mounted on the stud 69 is a handlelever 77, on the upper end ofwhich is a pivoted dog 7 S, that engages the teeth of the ratchet. Theconstruction is such that when the dog is in one position and the leveris oscillated the ratchet-wheel will be intermittently turned in onedirection, but when the dog is in the opposite position the oscillationof the lever will effect a contrary movement of the ratchet-wheel. Bythis means the stops may be simultaneously actuated, as and for thepurpose stated.

The mechanism for introducing the elastic weft is of the followingdescription: Fixed to the main frame immediately below the bar 35 is alongitudinal guide-frame 7 9, to which is fitted a carrier 80, fromwhich depend the weft-guides 81, the eyes of which lie directly abovethe needles. Extending from this carrier is a lug 82, to which isconnected a cord or flexible device 83, which runs freely oversuitably-arranged sheaves 84, its ends being fastened to eyes 85 on themain frame. This cord extends through guide-rollers 86 on the respectivearms of a horizontal rocking lever 87, said arms being linked withtreadles 88. Hence by depressing these treadles alternately the carrieris impelled to and fro, soas to introduce the elastic wefts to theneedles during the formation of the stitches.

The frame 79 comprises a horizontally-disposed bar 0, secured at itsends to the side Walls of the main frame, and a lower parallel bar 0,whose ends are upturned and bolted to the upper bar,thus forming anintermediate space or guideway. The carrier 80 comprises two end headsd, which are slidingly fitted between the bars and are connected andheld a suitable distance apart by means of a bar 61, carryingantifriction rollers (1 that take against the opposing edges of the barsof frame 7 9.

During the knitting of a welt or heading on the fabric the hook 22 isdisengaged from the point-bar, in which case straight-ahead knitting iseifected instead of the diamond or staggered stitchwork produced by thelongitudinal reciprocation of the point-bar.

In Figs. 1, 10, and 14 of the drawings I have illustrated a constructionof end stops 89, which may be used instead of the stops to limit thestroke of the plate 36. These stops 89 are shown at one end of the bar,although, of course, they may be applied to both ends thereof. They areintended for use mainly during the formation of knee-caps,wl1ereinseveral courses of stitch are narrowed and widened at alternate ends toeffect the pouchlike form of the articles. The stops 89 comprise aseries of arms pivoted on a suitablydisposed rod 35 on the bar 35 insuch manner that any of the arms may be thrown independently of theothers into the path of the plate 36, so as to determine the traverse ofthe latter, the same being increased or decreased after the knitting ofpredetermined courses of stitches, as required.

The stops 89 are used to effect quickly the shortening or thelengthening of the stroke of the plate 36 a distance of several needlesas desired, which operation would require a much greater time to effectby rocking the stops first described. i

In lieu of the pivoted arms I may use supplemental stop-blocks 89 ofvarious lengths, the same being detachably arranged on the barcontiguous to the stops 65, as represented in Fig. 14, the size of theblocks applied from time to time being determin ed by the require mentsof the work.

I claim as my invention 1. In a knitting-machine, the combination, withthe needles and their supporting parts, of the point-bearin g bar,its supportin g-levers, and means for automatically reciprocating said barlongitudinally, substantially as described.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and theirsupporting parts, of the point-bearin g bar,its supporting-leve rs, arocking lever, means whereby it is connected with one end of thepoint-bearing bar, a cam acting upon said rocking lever,and means foractuating the cam, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and theirsupporting parts, of the point-bearin g bar,its supporting-levers, arocking lever, a latch thereon detachably connecting the lever with oneend of the pointbearing bar, a cam acting upon said rocking lever, andmeans for actuating the cam, substantially as described.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and theirsupporting parts, of the point-bearing bar, its supporting-levers, arockin g lever, means whereby it is connected with one end of thepoint-bearing bar, a cam acting upon said rocking lever, the shaft forsaid cam, the ratchet-wheel on said shaft, the pawl coacting with saidwheel, the lever supporting the pawl, and the cam on the main shaftcoacting with said lever, substantially as described.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and theirsupporting parts, of the point-bearing bar,its supporting-levers, andmeans for automatically oscillating said levers, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles and theirsupporting parts,

said bar longitudinally, and means for automatically oscillating thelevers, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles, theirsupporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocativeheads connected with said frame, a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted tosaid heads, means for vertically reciprocating said bar, a threadcarrierhaving a sliding connection with said bar, and means for longitudinallyreciprocating said carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a knitting-machine, the combination, with the needles, theirsupporting parts and the jack-frame, of the forwardly-projectingtrack-arms, the horizontally reciprocative heads thereon, meansconnecting said heads with the jack-frame, the vertically-reciprocativebar fitted to said heads, means for operating said bar, a thread-carrierhaving a sliding connection with said bar, and means for longitudinallyreciprocating said carrier,

substantially as described.

10. In a knitting-machine,the combination,

with the needles, their supporting parts, and the jack-frame, oftransversely-reciprocative heads connected with said frame,averticallyreciprocative bar fitted to said heads, means for verticallyreciprocating said bar, a thread.- carrier having a sliding connectionwith sa1d bar, the bar 35, the reciprocative thread-carrocating saidplate, means connecting said plate with the thread-carrier, andadjustable stops on the ends of said latter bar, substantially asdescribed.

1.1. In a knitting-machine,the combination, with the needles, theirsupporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocativeheads connected with said frame, a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted tosaid heads, means for vertically reciprocating said bar, a threadcarrierhaving a sliding connection with said bar, the bar 35, the reciprocativethread-carrier-operatin g plate thereon, means for reciprocating saidplate, means connecting said plate wit-l1 the thread-carrier,longitudinallyreciprocative stops on the respective ends of the saidlatter bar, and means for simultaneously advancing or retracting saidstops step by step, substantially as described.

12. Inaknitting-machine,thecombination, with the needles, theirsupporting parts, and the jack-frame, of transversely-reciprocativeheads connected with said frame, a verticallyreciprocative bar fitted tosaid heads, a guide for said bar, a lever to which said bar is con- 7rier-operating plate thereon, means for recipneeted, arocking lever,alink connecting said fixed my signature in the presence of twosublevers, a cam for actuating said rocking lever, scribing Witnesses.the shaft for said cam, the thread-carrier having a sliding connectionWith said bar, and 5 means for longitudinally reciprocating saidWVitnesses:

carrier, substantially as described. JOHN R. NOLAN,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- T. FRANK KENDRIOK.

FREEMAN RAVEN.

